ABS Pipe

[martin888888]

Has anyone ever used ABS pipe before? I have never spec'd it out before or have heard it being used.
1) Is it similiar to PVC? What are the differences?
2) Is it a fusible pipe? Bell and Spigot?
3) Can it be used in pressure systems?
etc etc

Thanks. Didnt see much on the google machine

 

[Ron]

ABS is a different formulation than PVC. It is most often used for drain, waste, and vent piping (DWV). PVC solvent does not work on ABS and likewise. To my knowledge, ABS is not used for potable water.

 

[bimr]

Agree with Ron's comment.

 

[stanier]

Hi,

ABS is commonly used in Australia and Asia up to DN800 in size. It is manufactured to AS3518 in Australia, Indonesia and Malasia by Pentair ( Formerly Tyco Water & Eurapipe). The material is much tougher than PVC-U, PVC-O and PVC-M. This escially so at low temperatures down to -40C. PVC becomes brittle at 5C and below.

ABS is rated up to 15bar.

It available in bell and spigot to DN800 but is more commonly a solvent welded system. This is not the same as the mthod used for PVC which is basically a cement. The solvent weld mechanism uses ABS/MEK mixture. It is not a gap filler. The female fitting has a slight taper. By softening the mating parts witht he solvent cement when the joint is made the lateral forces ensure a chemical weld. It is such that if you section the joint you cannot see where the two parts weld together.

Common applcations are for sewage treatment, sea water applications, pure water for electronics, desalination plants, coal preparation, mineral processing, food and beverages, pharmaceuticals. Genrally where a pipe product is required for abrasive and corrosive duties it is to be found.

Be aware that the ABS in the USA may be to a different specification. There were some class actions in the plumbing industry some years back.

The difference is in the manufacture of the polymer. Some manufacturers produce the compnenets separately and then blend them physically. AS 3518 requires the ABS to be polymerised in the one process generally in a Pfaudler reactor. Although Monsanto Chemicals did have a process whereby the ABS was manufactured and polymerised in a continuous process.

Now that Pentair have taken over this division of Tyco you may see their product in the USA.

http://water.pentair.com/water/products/pipeline_systems/

http://www.philmac.com.au/product/product/productrange.aspx?r=41

“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”
---B.B. King

http://waterhammer.hopout.com.au/

 

[stanier]

Ron,

ABS is definetely used for potable water. This is in treatment plants and reticulation. It is also used for ultra pure water in the electronics, pharmaceutical and kidney dialysis applications.

In Malasia ABS is used in reticulation right up to the consumers front door and in some cases inside the dwelling.

In Taiwan Phillips used ABS in their factory for the manufacture of monitors where the slightest contamination would result in defective screens.

The desalination industry standardised on ABS decades ago for the produced water as well as the brine streams.

The South Australian MultiFunction Polis

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multifunction_Polis

gave ABS a fillip when some 200kms of piping up to DN800 was used to provide recycled water to irrigate farmlands local to Adelaide.

“The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.”
---B.B. King

http://waterhammer.hopout.com.au/